Jet lands in S.L. with cracked windshield

A Mesa Air flight from Edmonton, Canada, en route to Phoenix made a surprise stop at Salt Lake City International Airport a little after 10 a.m. Friday after cracks developed in a cockpit windshield.

Mesa Air's vice president for communication, Paul Skellon, spoke by phone from Phoenix Friday and said the aircraft was never in peril.

"No emergency was declared on this flight," Skellon said. "The pilot made a decision to make a precautionary landing in Salt Lake about an hour after the crack appeared. ... there was no drama, and the plane had a normal landing."

Skellon said the 84 passengers on board the Bombardier CRJ 900 jet all were accommodated on other Salt Lake flights to Phoenix. He said arrangements were being made to repair the jet, which remained at Salt Lake City International.

The Phoenix-based carrier operates about 160 jets under agreements with US Airways, Delta and United. The plane diverted to Salt Lake City is under contract to US Airways.